Mon. 10-23-2023 Not always the perfect tourist

 First of all, I want to revisit the perhaps unfair comparison of Naples to Palermo.  A similar thing happened when I visited Madrid.  The first three days of a European adventure, you are in the gray days of jet lag. Madrid seemed dull and not so vibrant.  Upon returning at the end of the trip, Madrid was vibrant, lively and sparkling.  But I won’t get the chance to return to Naples this trip, so Palermo rules baby!

First stop on a full day:  Palacio dei Normane .  The palace of the Normans.  I put my pack on the scanner and started to head inside, and the dude just kept trying to get my attention.  What? Knife. Oh shit, I had the serrated butter knife I stole from Jacob’s house in Naples in my pack. It’s not unusual for me to steal knives from apartments because:  I can’t get them through on carry on. They are useful for cutting cheese and salami and apples, the kind of stuff you eat on these trips. So I steal knives. Don’t tell Jacob. I had to surrender the knife or leave. (I’ll just steal another one)

Apparently there was a super ornate chapel on the First floor ( which we would call the second floor). But it was closed. Plus, there were signs saying no shorts ( and NO to a lot of other things) not allowed.  What do you think I was wearing anyway?  So it looks like I would miss out on that.  Ugh, rough start. 

So I went up to the second floor (think third floor) to the living area.  First stop was a situation room ( at the time in the 1970s Sicily was going through some transitions).  

The ceilings and wall murals and furniture were super opulent. Actually quite amazing.

So next was the tower room and I was done- I thought.  When I got to the first floor ( think second floor) the ornate chapel was open, and people with unholy shorts were being allowed in.  Yeah!

It was the most astonishing mash up of old Islamic art with Norman murals. It was a psychedelic collision of cultures.  Which pretty much sums up Sicily I think.

Apparently, I am staying a block away from one of the best street food and farmers markets in Sicily. Eating good is easy!  We think we are good at hospitality, but these market workers deal with spontaneous invasions of large guided tours, and they do it well, with maybe not the biggest smile, but they treat everyone fairly. 

Next a museum that was a one room oratory with a Caravaggio as a centerpiece and some stellar plaster art.

Lastly, what was billed as a “castle” in Google Maps, was a prison and “palace “ that was administered by a university.  Very interesting graffiti from 14th to 16th century, in rooms that housed up to 10 people that were only 20 feet square. 

And I can’t believe I didn’t take more pictures with my phone.  The graffiti was amazing. I’m going to go and steal a knife now. There you have it.